Mentoring is an important aspect of a business, but still seems to be lacking in many industries.

Mentoring is essential for businesses to prosper.

Why is mentoring important?

According to a recent study conducted by Development Dimensions International, senior leaders in finance, insurance and retail organizations are often better at coaching their employees, compared to those in healthcare and industrial manufacturing.

Creating a culture of coaching enables workers to communicate better, enhance their skills and move through the management ranks quickly.

“A coaching culture means continuous feedback and improvement in employee development,” he said. “Providing coaching to people managers along with training people managers on how to coach their teams creates a consistent feedback loop for employees that accelerates their development,” said Business Director of BASF Canada Ron Kehler.

How can mentoring be improved?

In order to further develop coaching between employees, be sure all workers are ready to make a change. By enlisting the expertise of both upper management and new hires, better bonds can be formed and information shared. Although more experienced employees may believe they have nothing left to learn, this is never the case. Coaching and mentoring is beneficial because it allows communication to be shared two ways, enhancing the learning of both employees involved.

Mentoring can also be improved through the personal developments of those who choose to partake in its learning. When employees feel as if their expertise or knowledge can benefit themselves and others, they are more likely to desire new development experiences.

Finally, take a look at the efficiency of your business learning as a whole. Some practices may be outdated, or not as successful as first believed. By doing so, improvements in overall efficiency can be made.